Machine translation feedback

ABSTRACT

Methods, program products and systems for first receiving an indication of when a user-manipulable cursor is positioned in proximity to a first presentation of first text in a graphical user interface (GUI), the first text being in a first language. In response to the first receiving, causing a second presentation in the GUI of second text in a distinct second language, where the second text represents a translation of the first text into the second language or the first text represents a translation of the second text into the first language. Second user input to the GUI is received providing an alternate translation of the first text to the second text or the second text to the first text.

BACKGROUND

Translation from one human language (a source language) to another humanlanguage (a target language) can be done in various ways. Machinetranslation uses computers to automate part of or the entire translationprocess. Many websites on the Internet provide machine translation toallow for easy access to information in different languages. Rule-basedmachine translation and statistical machine translation are two examplesof machine translation systems (MTS's). Such websites usually do notprovide a means for users to easily provide feedback on the translationquality, however. If users find a translation to be incorrect orculturally offensive, for example, typically their only resort is tosend an email message to the website operator who may or may not routethe message to the appropriate person. In addition, the message mightomit the source language version of the text, the translation at issue,or a corrected version of the translation. This makes it exceedinglydifficult to analyze translation errors and improve the quality ofmachine translation based on user feedback.

SUMMARY

In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in thisspecification can be embodied in a method that includes a method forfirst receiving an indication of when a user-manipulable cursor ispositioned in proximity to a first presentation of first text in agraphical user interface (GUI), the first text being in a firstlanguage. In response to the first receiving, causing a secondpresentation in the GUI of second text in a distinct second language,where the second text represents a translation of the first text intothe second language or the first text represents a translation of thesecond text into the first language. Second user input to the GUI isreceived providing an alternate translation of the first text to thesecond text or the second text to the first text. Other implementationsof this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, and computerprogram products.

These and other implementations can optionally include one or more ofthe following features. If the alternate translation is determined to beSPAM and it is discarded, where determining includes deciding if thealternate translation is one or more of: empty, the same as the firsttext or the second text, has a low probability of occurrence in thefirst language or the second language, contains an obscene word, or wassubmitted by a user who is suspect. The first text, the second text, andthe alternate translation are automatically provided to a humanreviewer. The first text, the second text, and the alternate translationare automatically provided to a community review process. The first textis identified by examining text represented in the first presentationthat is in proximity to the cursor. The first text represents a subsetof the text in the first presentation. The first text is a sentence. Thesecond presentation overlays the first presentation in the GUI. A thirdpresentation is displayed in the GUI which includes one or morepreviously provided alternate translations.

In general, one aspect of the subject matter described in thisspecification can be embodied in a method that includes receiving anindication of when a user-manipulable cursor is positioned in proximityto a first presentation of first text in a graphical user interface(GUI), the first text being in a first language. In response to thereceiving, causing a second presentation in the GUI of second text in adistinct second language, where the second text represents a translationof the first text into the second language or the first text representsa translation of the second text into the first language. User input tothe GUI is received providing feedback pertaining to the translation ofthe first text to the second text or the second text to the first text,where the feedback is one of: a rating, selection of an alternatetranslation, or an indication of whether the translation isinappropriate. Other implementations of this aspect includecorresponding systems, apparatus, and computer program products.

These and other implementations can optionally include one or more ofthe following features: determining if the alternate translation is oneor more of: empty, the same as the first text or the second text, has alow probability of occurrence in the first language or the secondlanguage, contains an obscene word, or was submitted by a user who issuspect.

Particular implementations of the subject matter described in thisspecification can be implemented to realize one or more of the followingadvantages. Text is automatically selected based on the location of acursor. A translation feedback window for the selected text isautomatically displayed. Users can easily compare a translated portionof selected text with corresponding text in a source language and submitan alternate (better) translation if necessary. Along with the userprovided alternate translation, the source text and the originaltranslation are automatically included with the user feedback. Additioninformation can also be automatically included with the feedback tofurther aid analysis of the machine translation error. User providedalternate translations are automatically analyzed to determine if theyare SPAM and, if so, they are discarded. User feedback is automaticallyrouted to the appropriate parties for individual or community review.Even monolingual speakers can submit alternate translations if thesurrounding context of the translation makes it clear that there is anerror. User translation feedback is enabled for an entire translateddocument or merely a fragment of translated text. User feedbackcollection is not disruptive to the user's reading experience. Thetechnique for obtaining feedback can be implemented with the languagesreversed.

The details of one or more implementations of the invention are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otherfeatures, aspects, and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an illustration of a webpage that has been translated fromRussian to English.

FIG. 1B is an illustration of a translation feedback window.

FIG. 1C is an illustration of a user-provided alternate translation.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of another translation feedback window.

FIG. 2B is an illustration of a ratings feedback window.

FIG. 2C is an illustration of a translation selection window.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for obtaining user translationfeedback.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system for routing user translationfeedback.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for obtaining user translation feedback.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A illustrates a rendering or “presentation” of an electronicdocument 100 in a graphical user interface (GUI). Generally speaking, anelectronic document or “document” contains text in at least one humanlanguage. A document can be a hypertext markup language document (HTML),an eXtensible Markup Language (XML) document, or a word processingdocument, for example. Some documents contain content in addition totext such as images and other data, including embedded content.Moreover, a document does not necessarily correspond to a file. Adocument may be stored in a portion of a file that holds otherdocuments, in a single file dedicated to the document in question, or inmultiple coordinated files. Documents can be stored in memory withouthaving first been stored in a file.

A GUI is capable of presenting a document's text on a display devicesuch as a computer monitor or other display. Web browsers such asMozilla Firefox which are capable of presenting documents on displaydevices utilize GUI libraries integrated into host operating systems(e.g., Microsoft Windows, available from Microsoft Corporation ofRedmond, Wash. and Mac OS X, available from Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif.). GUIs typically include functionality to allow users tointeractively manipulate document presentations. GUIs are provided onmost consumer computer devices such as personal computers, mobilephones, personal digital assistances, digital media players, electronicgaming devices, and electronic book readers. The techniques forobtaining user translation feedback described herein are applicable toall such devices. Moreover, these techniques can be used in combinationwith a wide variety of software applications including, but not limitedto, web browsers, word processors, document reading software, and otherapplications which display text.

Users interact with the presentation of a document (e.g., 100) in a GUIby using an input device such as a mouse or other suitable device. Theinput device has a visual representation (e.g., 102) or “cursor” on thedisplay device that allows users to select text in the presentation.Users can position the cursor 102 over a section of the presentation100. Text 110 that is in proximity to the mouse cursor 102 isautomatically selected, as shown in FIG. 1B. In various implementations,the selected text can is automatically highlighted in the presentation100. In some implementations, text deemed to be within the proximity ofthe cursor 102 is the sentence that is beneath the cursor's 102 hotspot.In other implementations, the selected text is the paragraph beneath thecursor's 102 hotspot. In yet further implementations, the selected textis text within a predetermined or dynamically determined regionsurrounding the cursor's 102 hotspot and is delimited on word, sentenceor paragraph boundaries.

A document contains source text in a source language. A document'ssource text can be automatically translated by a MTS to a targetlanguage. For example, the document presentation 100 is an Englishlanguage translation of a Russian language news web page. In variousimplementations, such a translation is accomplished by using a MTS suchas Google Translate, available from Google Inc., of Mountain View,Calif. However, other MTSs can be used. Google Translate can translatean arbitrary amount of text, including an entire webpage, from a sourcelanguage (e.g., Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Vietnamese) to a targetlanguage (e.g., English, French, Russian). By way of illustration, userscan enter the uniform resource locator (URL) of the webpage they wishtranslated into a text field on the Google Translate webpage and thenselect the source and target languages. Google Translate uses a MTS totranslate the visible text in the webpage from the source language tothe target language. The user's browser is then redirected to atranslated version of the webpage.

A translation feedback window 106 is automatically presented in the GUIwhen users position the cursor 102 over the text (e.g., 110) of adocument. The feedback window 106 is displayed over the documentpresentation 100 and near the cursor 102, for instance, or the feedbackwindow 106 can be incorporated into another portion of the GUI such thatthe document presentation 100 is not obscured. If the presentation 100is of translated text (in a target language), the feedback window 202displays the corresponding source text (in a source language) infeedback window region 104. Alternatively, if the presentation 100 is ofa document's source text, the feedback window region 104 displays atranslation of the selected text 110 into a target language. In afurther alternative, instead of displaying a feedback window 106, thetext that would be displayed in region 104 instead replaces the selectedtext 110 in the presentation 100 if the cursor 102 hovers on theselected text 110 for a predetermined time period. The selected text 110is automatically changed back when the cursor is moved away from theselected text 110.

Users may find that a given translation as shown in the presentation 100or in the feedback window 106 is incorrect. The feedback window 106enables users to provide suggestions for alternate translations. Byselecting the “Suggest a better translation” link 108, a text entryregion 112 is opened in the feedback window 106 (as shown in FIG. 1C)into which the user can enter an alternate translation. In someimplementations, the text entry region 112 is pre-populated with textthat the user can edit. If the presentation 100 is of translated text,the text entry region 112 is pre-populated with the selected text 110.Otherwise, the text entry region 112 is pre-populated with the selectedtext 110 translated into a target language. Users can edit the text orreplace it entirely. Users select the “contribute” button 114 to submittheir alternate translation to a translation feedback system, which isdescribed below. In addition to the alternate translation, the feedbackautomatically includes the source text in the source language and thetranslation of the source text to the target language.

FIG. 2A is an illustration of another feedback window 200 through whichusers can provide other types feedback. As before, if the presentation100 is of translated text, the region 104 displays the correspondingsource text. Alternatively, if the presentation 100 is of a document'ssource text, the region 104 displays a translation of the selected text110 into a target language. Users are given the opportunity to rate thequality, correctness or usefulness of the translation using, forinstance, a star rating 202 or other scoring mechanism. For example, atranslation which receives five stars is considered excellent whereas atranslation which receives one star is considered unacceptable.Alternatively, or in addition to a rating, users can submit writtencomments on the translation quality. A GUI button 208 (or other GUIelement) allows users to view ratings from other users, including theircomments, as shown in window region 212 in FIG. 2B. In furtherimplementations, users can also flag a translation as being culturallyinappropriate using a simple GUI checkbox 204 (FIG. 2A) or other GUIelement.

With reference to FIG. 2C, the feedback window 200 allows users toreview alternate translations considered by a MTS for the selected text110, alternate translations submitted by other users (e.g., as shown inFIG. 1C), or combinations of these, and pick one which they believe isbetter than the current translation. Users select the “Select AlternateTranslation” button 206 (or other GUI element) which causes the list ofalternate translations 210 to be displayed, as shown in FIG. 2C. Userscan choose a better translation by selecting a checkbox (e.g., 214) orother GUI element. If the MTS is a statistical system, the list 210 caninclude top translation possibilities that scored below the currenttranslation.

The additional feedback described in reference to FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C isautomatically provided to the translation feedback system and includesthe source text in the source language and the translation of the sourcetext in the target language. In addition, the feedback can include otherinformation relating to the state of the MTS when the translation wasperformed such as, for instance, alternate translations the MTSconsidered but did not elect for the selected text 110. All of thisinformation can be used to improve the quality of the MTS.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system for obtaining user feedback ofa machine translation. A client 304 (e.g., a web browser or otherapplication) and a server 306 each include components that may reside onthe same or on different computing devices connected by one or morenetworks (e.g., the Internet) such as personal computers, mobile phones,workstations, servers, and other suitable devices. Moreover, there maybe fewer or more components than illustrated. In variousimplementations, users submit a document or a reference to a document(e.g., a URL for a web page) 322 to a MTS 326 through a web portal(e.g., Google Translate) served by a web server 324. The web server 324fetches the document 322 and provides it to the MTS 326. The MTS 326translates the document's text in a source language to a target languageon behalf of the web server 324.

By way of illustration, the MTS 326 can be rules-based or statistical.In the case of a statistical MTS, translation is learned from previouslytranslated texts. A language model 320 provides probabilities of wordsand word combinations occurring in a target language to the MTS 326. Atranslation model 318 provides probabilities that a given word orcombination of words in a source language are translated into one ormore words in a target language. The MTS 326 translates text by lookingat adjacent sequences of one or more words in a source text to find themost probably translation of the text in the translation model 318. Thelanguage model 320 is used to ensure fluency by demoting possibletranslations that have words or word combinations with a low probabilityof occurrence in the target language.

The web server 324 provides the translated web page 330 to the client304. In some implementations, the translated web page 330 includes theoriginal source text in the source language which is not visible whenthe web page is rendered by the client 304 (e.g., the original sourcetext is marked as hidden). Alternatively, the web server 324 providesthe web page 330 to the client 304 such that the original source text isvisible and the translated text will not be visible when the web page isrendered by the client 305. The client processes the web page 330 bypopulating a Document Object Model (DOM) 316 with a representation ofthe web page 330. A DOM is a representation of a structured documentsuch as an HTML document. The DOM is used by the rendering engine 315 topresent the document on a display device 302.

In addition to the web page 330, or as part of it, the web server 324provides a text selection component 308, an initialization component310, and a feedback window component 312. Alternatively, thesecomponents are already resident in the client 304. The components 308,310 and 312 are comprised of JavaScript code (or code in anotherprogramming language) that is executed by the client 304 as part ofpresenting the web page 330 on the display device 302. Theinitialization component 310 sets up event handlers and timers for thetext selection component 308 and the feedback window component 312,respectively. The text selection component 308 is invoked when thecursor (e.g., 102) is moved over text which as been translated andautomatically selects (and highlights) the text in proximity to thecursor (e.g., 110) by changing the selected text's properties in the DOM316.

If the cursor remains over the selected text for a predetermined periodof time, the feedback window component 312 causes the presentation of afeedback window (e.g., 106 or 200) in proximity to the cursor. Thefeedback window component pre-populates the window with original sourcetext or translated text corresponding to the selected text. This textcan be obtained from the DOM 316 (e.g., the hidden text) or can beobtained by making a request to the web server 324. If the user submitsfeedback through the feedback window, the feedback window component 312transmits the information to a translation feedback system 302 whichwill be described with reference to FIG. 4. The feedback informationincludes the source text, the translated text, and optionally otherinformation such as the state of the MTS when the translation of theselected text occurred. MTS state information can be encoded in the webpage 330 as hidden information or obtained by making a request to theweb server 324.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the translation feedback system 302.When user feedback is received by the system 302, the feedback isinitially stored in a translation store 402. Unsolicited, incomplete,irrelevant, or inappropriate user feedback (so-called “SPAM”) isfiltered out of the system 302 by a filter component 404. The filtercomponent 404 characterizes user-provided alternate translations as SPAMif one or more of the following conditions are true:

-   -   The alternate translation is empty or unchanged from the        original translation;    -   The alternate translation contains obscene language;    -   The same user is suspect: the user has submitted more than a        given number of alternate translation within a given time period        or the user has a history of submitting SPAM;    -   According to the MTS, the alternate translation has a low        probability of occurrence in the target language; or    -   The alternate translation contains redundant words.

Other filters are possible, including a filter that automaticallycorrects misspellings in the alternate translation. Alternatetranslations that are not filtered out as are automatically routed to atrusted individual 404 to evaluate the alternate translation or to acommunity review process 406 which allows individuals to vote on whetherthey approve of the alternate translation. Since the alternatetranslation is accompanied by the original source text and thetranslated text, the person(s) reviewing the feedback have completeinformation in which to make a judgment. In various implementations, ifthe alternate translation is approved the alternate translation can beadded to a translation cache for the MTS 326 such that the alternatetranslation is henceforth used instead of the original translation.Alternatively, the alternate translation can be used to further trainthe MTS 326 by incorporating the alternate translation into the languagemodel 320 and the translation model 318.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart 500 illustrating a method for obtaining analternate translation from a user. An indication of when auser-manipulable cursor (e.g., cursor 102) is positioned in proximity toa first presentation of first text (e.g., 100) in a GUI is received, thefirst text being in a first language (step 502). A second presentation(e.g., feedback window 106) in the GUI of second text in a distinctsecond language is displayed (step 504). The second text represents atranslation of the first text into the second language or the first textrepresents a translation of the second text into the first language.Finally, user input to the GUI is received providing an alternatetranslation of the first text to the second text or the second text tothe first text (step 506).

Implementations of the subject matter and the functional operationsdescribed in this specification can be implemented in digital electroniccircuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including thestructures disclosed in this specification and their structuralequivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Implementationsof the subject matter described in this specification can be implementedas one or more computer program products, i.e., one or more modules ofcomputer program instructions encoded on a computer-readable medium forexecution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus.The computer-readable medium can be a machine-readable storage device, amachine-readable storage substrate, a memory device, a composition ofmatter effecting a machine-readable propagated signal, or a combinationof one or more of them.

The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all apparatus, devices,and machines for processing data, including by way of example aprogrammable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers.The apparatus can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates anexecution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., codethat constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a databasemanagement system, an operating system, or a combination of one or moreof them. A propagated signal is an artificially generated signal, e.g.,a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, thatis generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiverapparatus.

A computer program (also known as a program, software, softwareapplication, script, or code) can be written in any form of programminglanguage, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can bedeployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module,component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computingenvironment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to afile in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a filethat holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in amarkup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program inquestion, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store oneor more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer programcan be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computersthat are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites andinterconnected by a communication network.

The processes and logic flows described in this specification can beperformed by one or more programmable processors executing one or morecomputer programs to perform functions by operating on input data andgenerating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performedby, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC(application-specific integrated circuit).

Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, byway of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, andany one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, aprocessor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory ora random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer area processor for performing instructions and one or more memory devicesfor storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will alsoinclude, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer datato, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g.,magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computerneed not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded inanother device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant(PDA), a mobile audio player, a Global Positioning System (GPS)receiver, to name just a few. Computer-readable media suitable forstoring computer program instructions and data include all forms ofnon-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way ofexample semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flashmemory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removabledisks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. Theprocessor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in,special purpose logic circuitry.

To provide for interaction with a user, implementations of the subjectmatter described in this specification can be implemented on a computerhaving a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquidcrystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and akeyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by whichthe user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices canbe used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example,feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g.,visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input fromthe user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, ortactile input.

Implementations of the subject matter described in this specificationcan be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-endcomponent, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middlewarecomponent, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front-endcomponent, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface ora Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementationof the subject matter described is this specification, or anycombination of one or more such back-end, middleware, or front-endcomponents. The components of the system can be interconnected by anyform or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communicationnetwork. Examples of communication networks include a local area network(“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.

The computing system can include clients and servers. A client andserver are generally remote from each other and typically interactthrough a communication network. The relationship of client and serverarises by virtue of computer programs running on the respectivecomputers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

While this specification contains many specifics, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the invention or of what may beclaimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particularimplementations of the invention. Certain features that are described inthis specification in the context of separate implementations can alsobe implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely,various features that are described in the context of a singleimplementation can also be implemented in multiple implementationsseparately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, althoughfeatures may be described above as acting in certain combinations andeven initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimedcombination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and theclaimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation ofa subcombination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this should not be understood as requiring that such operationsbe performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processingmay be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various systemcomponents in the implementations described above should not beunderstood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and itshould be understood that the described program components and systemscan generally be integrated together in a single software product orpackaged into multiple software products.

Thus, particular implementations of the invention have been described.Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. Forexample, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in adifferent order and still achieve desirable results.

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving an indicationthat a user-manipulable cursor is positioned in proximity to apresentation of first text in a graphical user interface (GUI) on adisplay device of a computer device, the first text being in a firstlanguage, the first text being a translation of one or more words in adistinct second language; in response to receiving the indication,presenting in the GUI, by operation of the computer device, the one ormore words in the second language and a plurality of distinct alternatetranslations of the one or more words into the first language; receivinguser input to the GUI selecting one of the alternate translations in theplurality of alternate translations; and providing the selectedalternate translation of the one or more words to a translation feedbacksystem.
 2. The method of claim 1, in which at least one of the alternatetranslations in the plurality of alternate translations was receivedfrom a user.
 3. The method of claim 1 in which each alternatetranslation in the plurality of alternate translations was provided by amachine translation system.
 4. The method of claim 3 in which themachine translation system scored each of the alternate translations inthe plurality of alternate translations lower than the first translationas translations for the one or more words in the second language and thetranslation feedback system is a feedback system for the machinetranslation system.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:providing the first text, the one or more words in the second language,and the selected alternate translation to a community review process. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying the first text byexamining text presented in the GUI that is in proximity to the Cursor.7. The method of claim 6 where the first text represents a subset oftext presented in the GUI.
 8. The method of claim 1 where the first textis a sentence.
 9. The method of claim 1 in which each of the alternatetranslations has a score determined by a machine translation system andin which the ranking is determined based on the respective scores.
 10. Acomputer program product, encoded on a computer-readable storage device,operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operationscomprising: receiving an indication that a user-manipulable cursor ispositioned in proximity to a presentation of first text in a graphicaluser interface (GUI) on a display device of a computer device, the firsttext being in a first language, the first text being a translation ofone or more words in a distinct second language; in response toreceiving the indication, presenting in the GUI, by operation of thecomputer device, the one or more words in the second language and aplurality of distinct alternate translations of the one or more wordsinto the first language; receiving user input to the GUI selecting oneof the alternate translations in the plurality of alternatetranslations; and providing the selected alternate translation of theone or more words to a translation feedback system.
 11. The programproduct of claim 10 in which at least one of the alternate translationsin the plurality of alternate translations was received from a user. 12.The program product of claim 10 in which each alternate translation inthe plurality of alternate translations was provided by a machinetranslation system.
 13. The program product of claim 12 in which themachine translation system scored each of the alternate translations inthe plurality of alternate translations lower than the first translationas translations for the one or more words in the second language and thetranslation feedback system is a feedback system for the machinetranslation system.
 14. The program product of claim 10, in which theoperations further comprise: providing the first text, the one or morewords in the second language, and the selected alternate translation toa community review process.
 15. The program product of claim 10, inwhich the operations further comprise: identifying the first text byexamining text presented in the GUI that is in proximity to the Cursor.16. The program product of claim 15 where the first text represents asubset of text presented in the GUI.
 17. The program product of claim 10where the first text is a sentence.
 18. The program product of claim 10in which each of the alternate translations has a score determined by amachine translation system and in which the ranking is determined basedon the respective scores.
 19. A system comprising: a display device forpresenting a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user; one or more inputdevices configured to receive input from the user; and processorelectronics configured to perform operations comprising: receiving anindication that a user-manipulable cursor is positioned in proximity toa presentation of first text in a graphical user interface (GUI) on adisplay device of a computer device, the first text being in a firstlanguage, the first text being a translation of one or more words in adistinct second language; in response to receiving the indication,presenting in the GUI, by operation of the computer device, the one ormore words in the second language and a plurality of distinct alternatetranslations of the one or more words into the first language; receivinguser input to the GUI selecting one of the alternate translations in theplurality of alternate translations; and providing the selectedalternate translation of the one or more words to a translation feedbacksystem.
 20. The system of claim 19 in which at least one of thealternate translations in the plurality of alternate translations wasreceived from a user.
 21. The system of claim 19 in which each alternatetranslation in the plurality of alternate translations was provided by amachine translation system.
 22. The system of claim 21 in which themachine translation system scored each of the alternate translations inthe plurality of alternate translations lower than the first translationas translations for the one or more words in the second language and thetranslation feedback system is a feedback system for the machinetranslation system.
 23. The system of claim 19, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: providing the first text, the one or more words in thesecond language, and the selected alternate translation to a communityreview process.
 24. The system of claim 19, wherein the operationsfurther comprise: identifying the first text by examining text presentedin the GUI that is in proximity to the Cursor.
 25. The system of claim24 where the first text represents a subset of text presented in theGUI.
 26. The system of claim 19 where the first text is a sentence. 27.The system of claim 19 in which each of the alternate translations has ascore determined by a machine translation system and in which theranking is determined based on the respective scores.